Programs: Champion clubs: in school year 2016-2017, sasf provided 148 champions club afterschool programs located in schools throughout nyc, mt. Vernon, and yonkers, servicing 26,143 youth participants. Of the 148 programs, 73 of these contracts are funded through the nyc department of youth and community development (dycd), sasfs largest funder; 58 of the 73 are middle school programs. As our second largest funder, the nys education department provides 25 contracts. Some highlights include: the newsies (newspaper club) participants from ms 116 jamaica, queens were personally invited to tour abc news studios, introducing the students to news media and increasing their knowledge of current events; ms 318 williamsburg, brooklyn and its resident chess team received a visit from norway prime minister erna solbert and current world chess champion magnus carlsen, who played chess with the team as they prepared for the world chess championships hosted in nyc; ms 318 williamsburg, brooklyn chess team traveled to nashville, tn for the usa chess foundation super nationals vi competition bringing home 2 team wins and 2 individual wins. Typically, sites operated for 36 weeks during the school year with an average of 12-15 hours per week. Champions clubs combine educational support services with skill-based sports, physical fitness, health and wellness programs, visual and performing arts, community service learning projects, and cultural and education field trips. A key component of the champions club model is sasf's high school today, college tomorrow curriculum that helps prepare middle school students for the crucial transition to high school and assist high school students with drop-out prevention propgrams, homework help, p/sat and regents test prep, college counseling, campus visits, internships, and workforce readiness programs. Our data indicates an increase in school day attendance and overall improvement in academic learning as a result of participation in our programs. In school year 2016-2017, 93% of principals surveyed indicate that sasf supports students with skills-based enrichment (arts, sports, stem and leadership). Sasf is so important and plays a vital role in the development of youth in our communities. Sasf helps to supplement the limited enrichment programs available during the school day by providing thousands of youth with the opportunity to attend champions club during the after-school hours.
summer camp: sasfs summer camps allow students to engage in critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and "21st century skills" while stimulating student creativity as they participate in a variety of fun activities. Summer theme-change agents "taking care of our environment" took an interdiciplinary approach to various environmental justice topics that respond to current national issues. Areas explored included but not limited to: contamination of drinking water in flint, michigan and the dakota access pipeline federal provision. Our curriculum empowered students become change agents of the environment while further developing students' steam (science, technology, engineering, arts, & mathematics), literacy, and leadership content-based knowledge through inquiry, project based learning and service learning projects. This experience allowed students to engage in critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and 21st century skills while stimulating student creativity. Sasf operated 110 summer camp programs at school sites throughout nyc,servicing an estimated 8,821 students. Some highlights include: our 9th grade summer bridge academy programs provide incoming freshmen an elective credit upon successful completion of a 6-week academic preparation course. Over 70 camps and over 1,700 students and staff participated in icahn stadium sports day competing in fitness and field events. Over 1,900 students, family members and staff participated in mets family day which included 500 participants walking the bases before the start of the game. In addition, six sasf staff were honored for their contributions to the organization, specifically for sports programs. Students are exposed to the interdiciplinary curicula in steam (science, technology, engineering, arts, & mathematics), literacy, and leadership emphasizing questioning through project-based learning and service learning projects. Summer programs fill a critical need for school-aged children during the months of july and august. Research shows that youngsters - especially those from low-income families - lose ground academically during the summer months. Sasf provides communities with camps that support improving health and wellness, developing social skills, and preventing summer learning loss among our city's youth. Our summer camp programs operate from the beginning of july through the second week in august, all free of charge to participating families. Programs range from a 4 week - 7 week program, 4-5 days weekly. Sports: center for sports and wellness: sasfs center for sports and wellness provides a wide range of activities supporting coaches, sports professionals, school staff and students. Students in both school year and summer camp programs participate in a wide range of sports and wellness programs, in both traditional and non-traditional areas not typically found in urban schools. These programs include high-quality professional development and student sports, nutrition and fitness clinics, tournaments, and leagues. The center for sports and wellness largest event is a five day 3v3 basketball tournament that caters to 1,000 elementary, middle, and high school students and has an all-girls component. The event includes giveaways for all student involved, a live dj and healthy snacks to help fuel the players on and off the court! Sasf believes in servicing the full child which is why including nutrition education is key in the success of our students living healthfully. Food explorers, sasfs nutrition education program is offered throughout the school year and summer encouraging students to make healthy changes and learn how to make good food choices. All programs emphasize three essential components that include; skills development, fitness and nutrition education in safe and engaging environments. This program design impacts students in all schools citywide through sasf champions club and summer camp programs.